03x13 - Kramer Family

[bunniefuu]

[child screaming]

NARRATOR: They're every
parent's worst nightmare.

MAN: Don't bite!

You're going to be sorry!

[child screaming]

NARRATOR: Kids completely
out of control--

WOMAN: Give me the Kn*fe.

I want to k*ll you!

NARRATOR: --and taking
over the household.

[grunting]

WOMAN: Don't do that!

NARRATOR: These families have
reached the end of the rope.

How was I supposed to
know I was going to have

three kids in two years?

NARRATOR: They're in
desperate need of help.

Shut up, everyone!

NARRATOR: They only have
one alternative left.

It's time to contact Nanny 911.

[tranquil music playing]

Hello?

This is Nanny 911.

NARRATOR: We've gathered a
team of world class nannies

from all over the globe.

Each week, from Nanny
Central, they will watch

a video of a family in crisis--

WOMAN: Stop it.

[grunting]

NARRATOR: --and decide which
nanny is best suited to help.

They will then have one week to
take our families from living

hell to a family bliss.

Give me my life back.

It's mine!

NARRATOR: Can these
families be saved?

I hate Daddy and Mommy!

WOMAN: It's an emotional
roller coaster.

Unless you get
this right, it's

all going to fall to pieces.

If you think you can do a
better job, get on with it.

NARRATOR: Parents of
America, help is on the way.

The nanny's here.

The nanny's here!

NARRATOR: Tonight, parents
Ted and Jessica Kramer

have hit the snooze button.

I'm so scatterbrained
in my mind.

NARRATOR: This distracted mom
can't keep track of her son--

She's like a walking coma.

NARRATOR: --while dreamy dad--

We're going to go
to sleep pretty soon.

NARRATOR: --drives
his family in circles.

TED KRAMER: --back
and close your eyes.

NARRATOR: Meanwhile, the four
kids supply TV tantrums--

TED KRAMER: Turn the TV off.

[shrieking]

Brevin, I'm going to unplug it.

NARRATOR: --food fights--

[kids laughing]

Uh-oh.

NARRATOR: --and great escapes.

Come on, back, now.

It's not really an
accident waiting to happen.

NARRATOR: Can Nanny Stella
get these parents to wake up?

It's a catastrophe
waiting to happen.

NARRATOR: It's the danger
zone, tonight on Nanny 911.

[theme music playing]

[piano music playing]

[music playing]

[child shrieking]

[comic slipping sound]

[comic cartoon sounds]

[child shrieking]

TED KRAMER: Don't kick.

Now you too.

My name is Jessica Kramer,
and I'm a stay-home mom,

and I am insane.

[chuckling]

Go sit at the table.

My name is Ted Kramer, and
I am the father of Brevin,

Ryland, Nolan, and Annika.

[baby crying]

There's four kids here, and
they all want attention.

[children crying]

JESSICA KRAMER: Having four
kids is very overwhelming.

TED KRAMER: Ryland, now quit.

[child shrieking]

Ryland is four.

He's very smart.

You're doing a good job.

JESSICA KRAMER: Ryland
likes to scream.

He's very picky.

He has to have his
food cut a certain way.

Loves to watch TV.

It's just easier for me
to have him watch TV.

That way he won't be
screaming with his brothers.

[screaming]

TED KRAMER: Nolan.

Nolan is two.

And Nolan is more of a creative.

He likes to be
creative with stuff.

He's writing on the wall.

JESSICA KRAMER: Nolan
likes to write on the walls

any chance he can get.

He is a terrible two.

He likes to play with his food.

TED KRAMER: Nolan.

JESSICA KRAMER: Even refers
to his oatmeal as paint.

[comical music playing]

Nolan is a little
bit rough with Annika.

He thinks it's more like a doll.
- Nolan--

[whines]

--no.

[baby crying]

JESSICA KRAMER: Annika
is three months.

She's been going through
some fussy periods,

but she's just a
typical little baby.

[baby crying]

TED KRAMER: Brevin is six.

Brevin is a lot like
me, because I know

he doesn't like to be bored.

[groans]

JESSICA KRAMER: He
is very rambunctious.

I don't have any
control over Brevin.

He's the one who
runs the house, and

if he can bargain a way to
get out of doing something,

he will.

That is not something
you're supposed to color.

I know, but it's my toy.

He's a know-it-all.

He's challenging us.

He challenges his
teachers a lot too.

Brevin, now.

Now.

The most frustrating
thing that Brevin does

is when he gets outside and he
runs all over the neighborhood.

Gonna lock him out?

TED KRAMER: We actually
don't know where

our kids are a lot of the time.

JESSICA KRAMER: How'd
you get outside?

I'm running around with my
head chopped off all day long.

Come on.

You're going to drop
him on his head.

Now stop it.

Stop it.

We have no rules set in place.

Go put it in the garbage.

I asked nicely.

Nolan.
[child shrieking]

No, no, no, no, no, no, no.

You need to listen.

NOLAN: I don't like you.

Our nighttime routine,
we'll go on a little van ride,

and by the time we get home,
they're normally all asleep.

[baby crying]
- Ryland!

It's 24/7.

You can't take a break.

I'd have to add a

Don't take it downstairs.

Nolan, where are you going?

TED KRAMER: Jessica
is wishy-washy.

JESSICA KRAMER: Nolan, get down.

Nolan?

I don't want to be mean.

Off the table, right now.

There cannot be
any more excuses.

I've been resentful that Ted
gets to go to work and golf

and do stuff like that.

I just feel like
I'm just all mom.

[child crying]

You guys.

She's always
over-analyzing everything.

JESSICA KRAMER: I just don't
feel I'm valued at all.

I'm not fulfilled.

And when the kids ignore me,
it makes me feel invisible.

Here, can you sit up here?

Nolan, listen.

Hey.

Hey.

Why don't you guys
come and help me, OK?

Boys, I'm talking to you.

TED KRAMER: There's probably
stuff that does upset her,

but, well, she has a smile on.

JESSICA KRAMER: I have become
numb to a lot of stuff,

so it doesn't affect me.

Don't do that.

[banging on wall]

[baby crying]

[crashing]

TED KRAMER: This is serious.

Just waiting for a
disaster to happen.

Ooh, wow.

It's just always a
battle, and I'm very tired.

It just drives me crazy.

[child screaming]

[regal music playing]

[banging]

[shrieking]

TED KRAMER: Don't kick.

[child shrieking]

[banging]

JESSICA KRAMER: No.

[baby crying]

[child shrieking]

TED KRAMER: No,
no, no, no, no, no.

[regal music playing]

Well, ladies,
what do you think?

I don't think I've ever seen
a more clueless mother before.

She's all smiles, and
she should be terrified.

What a fiasco.

No schedule, no rules?

Those boys are in jeopardy.

The taller people
are the parents, right?

Because it's really hard
to tell by their behavior.

Nanny Stella, I'm
sending you to Grand Rapids

to help the Kramers to
get it together, and fast.

Thank you.

[music playing]

NANNY STELLA: I'm Nanny
Stella from Burnley

in the north of
England, and I've

been a nanny for over 17 years.

[shrieking]

TED KRAMER: Nolan.

NANNY STELLA: I've been
called to Cedar Rapids, Iowa

to teach the clueless
Kramers how to take control.

Nolan--

[whines]

--no.

NANNY STELLA: Mom Jessica
is so overwhelmed she

can't keep track of her kids--

JESSICA KRAMER: How'd
you get outside?

NANNY STELLA: --while
delusional dad Ted lets

his three sons rule the house.

[screaming]

These parents are clearly
being taken for a ride,

and I'm putting the brakes on.

[bell chiming]

NANNY STELLA: Hello.
- Oh, hi.

- I'm Nanny Stella.
- I'm Jessica.

- Nice to meet you.
- Nice to meet you.

Come on in.

JESSICA KRAMER: When I
first saw Nanny Stella,

I was like, oh my
god, I can't believe

this is really happening.

This is Nanny Stella.

- Hi.
- Hello.

NANNY STELLA: I'm Nanny Stella.
- Nice to meet you.

My name is Ted.

TED KRAMER: As soon as
she came into the door,

she was observing.

The kids have no idea what's
going to be coming at them.

NANNY STELLA: So are
you guys ready for me?

Let me tell you
what happens today.

Today is about me
getting to know you guys,

and I just have to follow you
around the house with this.

[bell dinging]

And I take notes.

And then at the
end of it, I help

you guys with your problems.

JESSICA KRAMER: I think
fixing our family is going

to be very hard
work for the nanny,

and she's going to have a
nice challenge on her hands.

Any questions?

NANNY STELLA: I begin to
observe the Kramer family

as they sit down for breakfast.

Immediately, Brevin, the
oldest, starts acting up.

TED KRAMER: In your seat now.

JESSICA KRAMER: Come on.

You chose not to
sit at the table,

so you're going to
have a time out now.

BREVIN: No, I'm not.

NANNY STELLA: So mum
puts Brevin in time out.

This looks promising.

TED KRAMER: Every time you
turn around, and here's

another minute going on.

NANNY STELLA: But mum's weak
time out is a total failure.

You're going to go
back into timeout.

BREVIN: Nope.

TED KRAMER: I just tell him
that I'm going to do something,

but I actually don't do it.

Back at the table with us.

NANNY STELLA: The children
in the Kramer household

are running it.

Come on, Brevin.

Time out.

BREVIN: Nuh-uh.

Sometimes it's
kind of funny to just

sit back and watch the chaos.

I'm not going to make this
a chasing game, Brevin.

Within minutes, mom gives up.

Victory for Brevin.

TED KRAMER: Brevin,
what are you doing?

NANNY STELLA: Next, dad
attempts punishment.

TED KRAMER: Brevin, no.

NANNY STELLA: But he
clearly has no authority.

BREVIN: [laughing]

TED KRAMER: Turn it off.
BREVIN: [laughing]

TED KRAMER: It's not funny.
I mean it.

You're going to take a time out.

You're not watching a movie.

You stay right there.

The kids don't listen to me.

They just go on about their--

their routine.

Nolan, turn the TV off.

NANNY STELLA: And before
long, dad is outnumbered.

[child shrieking]

TED KRAMER: Stay
away from the TV.

Brevin, I'm going to unplug it.

NANNY STELLA: Exhausted,
dad gives up, just like mom.

They don't want to
pay any attention

to what their parents
want them to do,

and for me, that's
a lack of respect.

Later, I noticed that
the kids' disrespect

doesn't end with their parents.

The kids don't have any
respect for the house--

NOLAN: [whimpers]

[banging]

NANNY STELLA:
--especially walls.

They scribble all
over the walls.

He's writing on the wall.

Ry?

RYLAND: Get over--

What's going on?

RYLAND: Nolan's
writing on the wall.

JESSICA KRAMER: Nolan likes
to write on the walls,

so it's a real
battle just trying

to keep all the pens and
markers away from his reach.

NANNY STELLA: Some of the
behaviors with the children

are because they're bored.

They're not stimulated enough.

[child crying]

TED KRAMER: So you're
going to go to time out.

NANNY STELLA: And while mom
just ignores the bad behavior,

dad attempts another
half-hearted time out.

TED KRAMER: OK.

You stay in here.

Two minutes.

Ted actually put him in his
room and then closed the door

and held the door firm
so he couldn't get out.

Your spot for
timeout is their rooms?

TED KRAMER: Yes.

JESSICA KRAMER: Only if you
stand there and hold the door.

TED KRAMER: Only-- yeah.

My first thoughts were, OK,
what are we doing wrong already?

I can't really see it.

NANNY STELLA: Time out's
not about somebody holding

the door closed while you play
in your room for two minutes.

That was just keeping your
child c*ptive in his bedroom.

Halfway through the day,
I noticed Ryland wandering

off to the backyard to play, but
there's not much to play with.

It's no wonder these kids
get a little stir crazy.

The backyard was just barren.

There was nothing in it.

There was nothing
to play with or do.

It wasn't very appealing.

After Ryland gave
up playing outside,

he moved inside with
the rest of the family.

TED KRAMER: Put your feet down.
RYLAND: No.

No.
TED KRAMER: Please.

RYLAND: No.
TED KRAMER: I asked you nicely.

NANNY STELLA: But it
isn't long before I

notice something very alarming.

I don't know where
two children are.

[chuckling] Me neither.

NANNY STELLA: I was
concerned, but they weren't.

[scary music playing]

They disappeared?

Yeah.

Nolan?

Ryland?

I don't know the
first thing about boys,

and I just cannot chase
them down with all the rest

of the kids in the house.

NANNY STELLA: Guys, can
you come in, please?

RYLAND: Yeah.

NANNY STELLA: Wow.

You're making nanny
nervous, do you know that?

TED KRAMER: What are
you guys doing outside?

JESSICA KRAMER: Did
you open the door?

OK.

NANNY STELLA: When I'm
looking at Jessica,

I think she's like
a walking coma.

She's like somebody
who's not there,

but they are moving around.

JESSICA KRAMER: I want
to see how you open it.

NOLAN: Ta-da!

NANNY STELLA: Safety is a huge
problem in the Kramer house.

They're being cavalier
and very complacent

about the welfare
of their children.

And later, as dinner approached,
mom was busy with the baby.

Hey, Ry, do you want to
check and see if the water is

boiling yet for me?

So she tried to enlist Ryland
to help with the cooking.

BREVIN: I will, Mommy.

JESSICA KRAMER: Thank you.

NANNY STELLA: There was some
boiling water on the stove,

and mom asked Brevin if he
could go and check on it.

BREVIN: Yeah, it's boiling.

NANNY STELLA: He's only six.

JESSICA KRAMER: I have so many
things that I need to get done.

I'm a stressed out mom.

OK, put that much into
the boiling water.

NANNY STELLA: I
was shocked when I

saw Brevin pouring the noodles
into the boiling water.

BREVIN: Oh man, it's a flood!

NANNY STELLA: I kept
a close eye on Brevin,

since no one else was.

It's dangerous for any
child unsupervised.

And as the family
sat down for dinner,

things didn't improve any.

Look, he's a--

JESSICA KRAMER: Nolan.

TED KRAMER: Nolan, put it
down and use your fork.

Nolan.

NANNY STELLA: The boys'
table manners were atrocious,

but mom and dad were oblivious.

NOLAN: I want to
find the treasure.

TED KRAMER: There's
no treasure in there.

JESSICA KRAMER: Nolan likes
to eat with his hands,

and he likes to smear
it all over like paint.

Can you use your fork?

NANNY STELLA: It was k*lling me.

It was so painful to watch
Ted and Jessica just flounder.

TED KRAMER: Nolan.

Nolan, stop.

NANNY STELLA: It's
been quite a day,

but I hadn't seen anything
until I saw bedtime.

The bedtime in the
Kramer house is probably

one of the most creative
but crazy bedtimes I've

ever come across in 17 years.

TED KRAMER: OK, you guys
want to play a little game?

Yeah.

TED KRAMER: OK, count how many
cars that go past you, OK?

NANNY STELLA: Bedtime
actually entails

taking them out in the
minivan and driving them

around until they fall asleep.

TED KRAMER: OK, start counting.

When they're at a point
where we think that they just

need to settle
down a little bit,

then we'll put them in the
van and drive them around.

Nolan tired?

NOLAN: I am.

TED KRAMER: Are you?

Just close your eyes, then.

Oh, Nolan's sleeping.

NANNY STELLA: Once the
kids had fallen asleep,

Ted carries them into
their rooms one by one

and puts them to bed--

without brushing their
teeth, giving them a bath,

or even changing their clothes.

I've seen enough.

It's time to sit these parents
down for a serious talk.

I hope they're ready for
what I have to tell them.

The first thing that really,
really concerns me is bedtime.

It's painful to watch you spend
all that time in a car when you

could have spent that
winding them down

and putting them to bed.

I'm stopping that now.

Good luck.
[chuckling]

NANNY STELLA: What's--

OK, I'm up for the challenge.

That's the only thing
that you know has worked?

TED KRAMER: Yes.

NANNY STELLA: Right.

You've done things in
the short term that are

k*lling you in the long term.

Driving that minivan in
the short term fixed it,

but are you going to do
that till they're 18?

Yeah, I guess I never
really thought of that.

You've got into these bad
habits that have to be fixed.

Before your children can
change their attitude,

you absolutely have
to change yours.

TED KRAMER: I'm very skeptical
about them just going to bed

and not having the van ride.

Once given the
tools, you can do it.

But right now,
what I've observed

is that there is a serious lack
of discipline in this house.

I don't agree with that.

Your kids are in control!

TED KRAMER: Nolan,
turn the TV off.

NOLAN: [shrieking]

TED KRAMER: Turn it off.

NOLAN: [shrieking and crying]

Hey, stay away from there.

Stay away from the TV.

NOLAN: [shrieking]

TED KRAMER: Brevin,
I'm going to unplug it.

NANNY STELLA: And
what concerns me even

more is the safety of the kids.

In my estimation, you place
your children in danger.

When you turn your back
for a split second,

you don't know where they are.

One second, because I don't
know where two children are.

JESSICA KRAMER:
[chuckling] Me neither.

TED KRAMER: They disappeared?

JESSICA KRAMER: I was shocked,
because I feel that they are

pretty safe, for the most part.

NANNY STELLA: You've
lulled yourselves

into this false
sense of security,

and I don't want you to be
concerned about your children

playing out.

But they're not playing out.

They've escaped.

It's not an accident waiting
to happen, it's a catastrophe.

JESSICA KRAMER: It makes me
feel like a terrible mom.

TED KRAMER: We have always had
the highest concern for safety.

I really had no
clue what to think.

NANNY STELLA: In good
faith, I can't just

stand around and watch
you guys keep floundering.

It is not going to be easy.

JESSICA KRAMER: I know that
I am not the perfect parent,

but I don't think there's one
right way to do everything.

But you've just let
things get to this really

bad place of being habitual,
but they're not safe.

JESSICA KRAMER: I definitely
did not expect that at all.

It really scared me.

NANNY STELLA: After
yesterday's observations,

my concerns with the
Kramers are crystal clear.

Hey, everybody.
JESSICA KRAMER: Hello.

NANNY STELLA: Good morning.
TED KRAMER: Hello.

NANNY STELLA: Mom is
clueless about safety,

and dad is always
taking the easy way out.

This is the fun part.

This is where we all get
to work together as a team.

It was time to give the
Kramers a new set of rules.

Do you know about this
big red book that I have?

It has rules.

Oh, come on.

[chuckling]

We're just doing everything
by the seat of our pants.

The first one is respect
each other and your home.

He's writing on the wall.

NANNY STELLA: Do you think you
guys respect your home when

you're scribbling on the walls?

You do?

No.

Can't write on
the walls anymore.

And you've got to be
nice to each other.

JESSICA KRAMER: I didn't
think it was going to work.

Old habits are
very hard to break.

NANNY STELLA: The second rule
is bedrooms are for bedtime.

OK?

Minivans aren't for bedtime.

I know-- I know
dad's looking at me

like he wants me to shrivel up.

TED KRAMER: I was kind of
like, well, if it works,

why do we got to break it?

NANNY STELLA: Next,
time out means time out.

I'm really big on time out, and
you've already said that that

hasn't worked for you.

I still want to try that.

TED KRAMER: Two minutes.

You stay right there.

JESSICA KRAMER: It is
probably good to be firm,

but I don't want to be mean.

NANNY STELLA: The final
rule is safety first.

There'll be no more
running down the street

and not knowing
where you guys are

and doing things
that aren't so safe.

TED KRAMER: Safety was
the most important issue.

I can't really see it.

JESSICA KRAMER: How'd
you get outside?

I consider our house a
safe home for our family,

but I wouldn't consider it a
safe home for other families.

NANNY STELLA: OK,
what else do I have?

This is the reward board.

Do you get rewards in school?

Do you get stars at school
when you do things well?

These are the things that we're
going to work on initially.

Listen and respond,
good table manners--

TED KRAMER: I'd like
the reward board.

They know if they
get a lot of stars,

then they're going to
be able to get a reward.

NANNY STELLA: Asking permission.

The big ask permission is
to go outside, all right?

We've got to start the day.

We're going to get some
stuff organized, yeah?

TED KRAMER: Sticking with all
these rules and everything,

we're thinking, well, how
long is this going to last?

NANNY STELLA: After giving
the family the new rules,

I wanted to put the reward
board to immediate use

by having the kids clean up.

Did you do that?

No way.

We're doing a very good
job of getting organized.

We want them to put
their all their toys

away so we have it nice and
neat, and that way it allows

Jessica a little bit more time
where we don't have to go up

and pick up after them.

I'm giving you
one, two, three.

Good job.

And after we'd finished
tidying up the house,

I had another
project for the boys.

I need you upstairs
for a minute.

I've got a project for us to do.

The kids don't have any
respect for the house

or for their parents.

I wanted to find
a space where they

could actually go
and be creative, as

opposed to scribbling on walls.

OK, you see this scribbling?

Yeah.

NANNY STELLA: It's not allowed.

It's only going to be
allowed on this wall.

OK.

NANNY STELLA: So
this, this is paint.

And when it dries, you
can chalk all over it.

We dip it in here.

Can you do that?

Can you roll?

There you go.

Nolan, you can't scribble
anywhere else in the house, OK?

Good job.

TED KRAMER: I'm looking forward
to getting rid of all the marks

and start fresh, and hopefully
it'll make them more creative.

NANNY STELLA: The boys
were so enthusiastic

about the chalkboard
wall, especially Nolan.

Are you having fun, Nolan?

I think writing on any
other walls is history.

[giggling]

Later in the day, I wanted to
give mom and dad a unique tool

to keep track of the kids.

The first thing I'm going to
show you is the Giggle Bug.

All right?

Press the button.

OK?

This is your remote.

When you don't know where
they are, you press this.

OK?

But if they try
and take it off--

[device beeping loudly]

That's awesome.

I like that.

That's more for in the house.

JESSICA KRAMER: It was
just so neat to see tools

I had never known existed.

There is no way the boys are
going to escape our house now.

NANNY STELLA: Although this
will not solve all of the safety

problems, it's a start.

Can you come upstairs
for a minute?

Now, another surprise to stop
the dangerous outdoor escapes.

So I've got you
something that's outside,

but it's in the
garden, and you don't

have to run out on the
street to play with it, OK?

Would you like to see it?

Yeah.

NANNY STELLA: OK, out you go.

It was a trampoline
for the back garden.

Look at that, guys!

- Do you want to try it?
- Yeah.

NANNY STELLA: And--

TED KRAMER: What do
you tell Nanny Stella?

Thank you!

NANNY STELLA: You're welcome!

It was apparatus to keep
the kids occupied but keep

them safe at the same time.

Ooh, cool, guys!

Yay!

[laughing] Can you
come on it with us?

NANNY STELLA: I knew you
were going to ask me that.

[chuckling] See
how high you can go.

NANNY STELLA: See
how high you can go.

How high-- Whoa,
that's high, Brevin!

TED KRAMER: OK, here I go!

NANNY STELLA: This trampoline
will help these kids

burn off some energy.

Have fun, boys!

I wanted to see if mom and dad
could keep an eye on the boys

without me around.

Mommy, come on!

[laughing]

NANNY STELLA: But as
soon as I turn my back,

they let Nolan out
of their sight.

JESSICA KRAMER: Whoa, whoo!

Even after rules
and tools and lots

of conversations about
safety, Nolan got out,

and nobody knew where he was.

And I think that probably was
a huge turning point for me

as far as my frustration.

NANNY STELLA: Nolan?

Nolan?

I'd gone out of the side door--

I was going to go
into the backyard--

and actually saw Nolan running
around on the front street.

Nolan?

Nolan?

Uh-oh.

TED KRAMER: Nolan, what
are you doing out here?

NANNY STELLA: It's
absolutely frightening to me

that their two-year-old
was running

around so close to traffic, and
they had no idea where he was.

You know better than that.

Nuh-uh.

Yup.

You can't be out here.

You got to ask permission
if you can go out front.

Now you got to stay
in the back yard.

Nolan was out in the front yard.

NANNY STELLA: When I heard Ted
say to Jessica, Nolan got out,

and the way she responded,
there was no anxiety.

They should be scared to
death on those kids being out.

After Nolan's second
escape, I insisted

that mom put him in a time out.

Two minutes.

Oh, Mommy!

NANNY STELLA: But as soon
as mom set the timer,

she left Nolan unattended.

But clever little
Nolan finds a way out.

[bell ringing]

He advances the time.

JESSICA KRAMER:
You did a good job.

Thank you for sitting there.

NANNY STELLA: This
little lad has outfoxed

his scatterbrained mother.

I'd better clue her in.

You didn't hear
the timer go off?

JESSICA KRAMER: Right.

He got up and reset it.

Oh.

So this is important
for everybody.

Time out's about doing your time
out and then talking about what

you did so you make sure you get
the message across that you're

not going to do it again.
- OK.

Does that make sense?

Yeah.

I think I'm doing it
right, because I know my boys

better than anyone else.

NANNY STELLA: Next, It's time
for the bigger challenge--

getting the kids to go
to bed without using

the minivan as a sleep aid.

Who's going to bed first?

Nolan's going to bed first?

And I had a surprise for the
boys that I hoped would help.

Close your eyes
for a big surprise.

TED KRAMER: [whistling] Wow.

NANNY STELLA: New PJs!

TED KRAMER: Wow.

NANNY STELLA: All
right, who else

is going to bed after that?
- Me!

NANNY STELLA: When they're made
to go to sleep in the minivan,

they end up sleeping all
night in their clothes.

I'm a big believer in
going to bed in your PJs.

Thank you for listening.

Now it's time for
the sleep test.

Hopefully dad is on board.

It's 6:30.

Are you going to
start with Nolan?

Yeah, I'm going
to start right now.

I just got done.

I'm very skeptical about them
changing from just going to bed

and not having the van ride.

Lay down.

They have never
gone into their beds

and gone to sleep by themselves,
but OK, let's follow this,

let's see how effective
it's going to be.

OK, I need you to--

I need you to lay down.
- Hey!

There's a fish!

Yeah.

I need you to lay down.

NANNY STELLA: The children
don't want to pay any attention

to what their parents
want them to do,

because nothing happens anyway.

TED KRAMER: Come on, lay down.

I need you to lay down, and
then I can read you a book.

I don't want to.

OK, then we're not
going to finish the book.

[crying]

You're OK.

[cries]

Night-night.

I don't want to!

TED KRAMER: Yep,
you got quiet time.

NANNY STELLA: Dad got
frustrated with Nolan

and went downstairs and
rushed through bedtime

with the other boys.

TED KRAMER: Come on,
you gotta go to sleep.

See you tomorrow morning.

RYLAND: A few
minutes later, Nolan

was up and out of his room.

Boo!

You need to get
into your room.

You stay in there.

What are you doing out of bed?

NANNY STELLA: Next,
little Ryland tattles

on his big brother--

Now.

Downstairs.

NANNY STELLA:
--causing dad's fuse

to get shorter and shorter.

TED KRAMER: Brevin, why
did you throw this at him?

BREVIN: I didn't!

TED KRAMER: Yes, it
was sitting right here.

BREVIN: I didn't
throw it at him!

TED KRAMER: I don't think you're
telling the truth, Brevin.

BREVIN: I am telling the truth.

TED KRAMER: I'm telling
you, this is your warning.

I mean it.

I'm not kidding around, Brevin.

BREVIN: Yeah, you are.

TED KRAMER: You'll see.

There's no way
we're going to get

all the kids to settle down.

It wasn't going to work.

[child screaming]

NANNY STELLA: And sure enough,
Nolan continued to scream.

JESSICA KRAMER: Should
we just let him scream?

No, I want to go
in and say it's quiet

time, because he already knows.

I've told him.

It was especially hard for Ted
to give up on the van routine,

because he knew that
was the way that worked.

TED KRAMER: Nolan.

NANNY STELLA: With
that, dad seems fed up,

and he bursts into Nolan's room.

TED KRAMER: OK, here we go.

Let's go.

NANNY STELLA: Dad snatches
Nolan out of his bed,

puts on his jacket, and
with the other two boys,

heads out the door.

TED KRAMER: Brevin?

If it works, why do
we got to break it?

Let's go, Ryland.

There was no way that
her routine would

work for us at night time.

I think it's a waste of time.

We're going to go
for a little drive.

NANNY STELLA: Dad had
completely given up,

and I was beginning to lose
hope for the Kramer family.

NOLAN: Bye bye!

NANNY STELLA: I don't
know what it will

take to get through to Ted.

He keeps taking
the easy way out,

but it only makes things
harder in the long run.

We can eliminate the whole
van when they're older.

NANNY STELLA: I definitely
need to sit these parents down

and see if anything
is sinking in

or if I'm just wasting my time.

So do you feel you're on track?

Do you feel like it's
all gelling in your head

that this is-- you
know what you're doing?

Is it coming together today?

TED KRAMER: Oh, I think it is.

I thought it went
really well today.

[baby cooing]

Really?

I'm very surprised.

I am very surprised.

Um, let me tell you, your kids
should be in bed at 7 o'clock.

That is not unrealistic at all.

The first night that
you implemented it,

you just gave up.

How do you think that
works for your children?

Not good.

They don't know if
they're coming or going.

I don't want you to
say, I can't do this.

You can't give up.

You have to still stay on it
harder than the first night,

OK?

Tomorrow's a new day.

Get lots of sleep.

[sighing]

My time in Iowa is running
out, and with the new day,

I'm hoping to see some evidence
that these parents are really

on board.

While it pleases me to see
Jessica spending some quality

time with Nolan and Ted
tending to Annika and Ryland,

Brevin is once again
left to his own devices.

OK, let's dress them.

NANNY STELLA: Brevin can't
sit-in his seat for very long.

What color is that?

Pink!

Yeah.

NANNY STELLA: And before
long, Brevin's boredom

gets the best of him.

Jessica, do you know
where Brevin is?

I was waiting to
see if mom was going

to get up and do something,
but she was clueless.

So Brevin had escaped
yet again, and I'd--

I'd lost it now.

I'd had enough.

Brevin?

JESSICA KRAMER: Brevin.

NANNY STELLA: Brevin?

You need to come back
right now, please.

JESSICA KRAMER:
Brevin, where are you?

NANNY STELLA: I am fed
up with Ted and Jessica.

They don't seem to care
about safety at all.

I am at the end of my rope.

You need to come back.

Because nobody knew.

What if-- what if a car
comes and it knocks you down?

What's going to happen then?

Everybody's going
to be very sad.

Listen to me.

I need you to focus.

If you want to ride off,
you have to ask somebody,

just like you have to ask
if you want to go outside.

OK.

JESSICA KRAMER: Brevin will
just take off without telling me

where he's going.

You can't just get up
quick and run outside

and chase them all down.

I need to talk to you two.

I am not trying to
be mean to you guys.

I'm not-- I am concerned
about the welfare, the safety,

of your kids.

Whose job was it
to watch Brevin?

We didn't even
talk about that.

They dropped the ball.

The communication between them
about the actual incident,

in my words, was insipid.

Is it a big deal, or isn't it?

Oh, it's a big deal.

OK.

I'm not calm, and
they're not my kids.

This is what you've done.

You've lulled yourself into
this really scary comfort

zone about their safety.

I don't fault myself,
because I'm doing

the best I know how to do.

I'm going very, very soon.

What is your plan to
keep your kids safe?

That's my question.

I think better communication
between the two of us

on where they're
at at all times.

OK.

Oh, yeah, she's serious.

It was just a miscommunication
between me and Jessica.

NANNY STELLA: I'm
running around, you know.

I've got-- I'm more
concerned about where he is.

You've become way too complacent
about where the kids are.

No excuses.

There aren't any.
- Right.

Right.
There aren't any.

NANNY STELLA: Right?

Jessica was nodding in
agreement, but I was skeptical.

Safety is still very much an
issue in the Kramer house.

Later, dad had
gone to the store,

and mom was trying
to get some lunch.

NOLAN: [yelling] [laughing]

Nolan.

NANNY STELLA: But Nolan
was making a commotion.

NOLAN: Go!

JESSICA KRAMER: Why don't
you guys find something

else to do that's fun?

NOLAN: [vocalizing] Ow!

NANNY STELLA: I wasn't
at all surprised

when Nolan hurt himself.

Where are you going, Brev?

RYLAND: And then, as he
had done so many times

before, Brevin walked out of
the house and closed the door.

Mom seemed unconcerned,
even after the many talks

we'd had about safety.

NANNY STELLA: Nolan
watched out the window

as his older brother
got on his go-kart

and disappeared down the street.

Soon, Nolan was outside
too, and starting

to follow behind Brevin.

Then something
incredible happened.

You're not supposed
to be out here.

Come on, let's go
back in the house.

NOLAN: [screaming]

JESSICA KRAMER:
Brevin, don't test me.

Come on, back now.

Safety is a very
important issue.

That's one that
struck me as, oh, I

got to get a handle
on this stuff,

because something
bad's going to happen.

Brr, it's cold out here.

You guys don't
even have coats on.

Brevin, now.

How'd you get out?

NANNY STELLA: Mom finally
seems to be taking

the safety issue to heart.

And what I saw next
convinced me of it.

Brevin is having a time out
and Nolan's having a time out.

[kids laughing]

JESSICA KRAMER: It's not funny.

I feel like I've
had a breakthrough.

JESSICA KRAMER: I was
just beside myself.

When Brevin starts running
away, Nolan follows him,

and they need to
learn that there's

going to be a consequence.

Two minutes, Nolan.

Six minutes, Brevin.

[timer ringing]

Brevin, I am serious.

Turn around.

NANNY STELLA: I know
it's going to change

if Jessica's consistent
and doesn't give

in when it gets a little tough.

[timer ringing]

JESSICA KRAMER: You can get up.

Your timer is at zero, and
my clock says you're done.

NANNY STELLA: Now that mom
is disciplining her kids,

I feel safe that these boys
have learned their lesson

and will not escape.

And just to be sure--

Come here for a minute.

Let's have a chat.

--I wanted to have
a talk with Brevin.

So are you being a
nice big brother today?

I don't know.

NANNY STELLA: Brevin will
actually run out of the house,

and on some occasions,
he'll actually either

take Ryland or Nolan with him.

Do you know what being a
nice big brother means,

or being a good big brother?

Being nice to people.

Do you think it's
a nice big brother

when you take your brother
and sneak out of the house?

No.

NANNY STELLA: I
got his attention,

and I spoke to him in a
calm way but a direct way,

that this is what he
should do, and this

would help the situation.

What other things can
you do to be helpful?

Ask before you go.

JESSICA KRAMER: With the
nanny here, I'm learning,

and it's giving
me peace of mind.

I want to do the
best for my kids.

RYLAND: With the
hard work behind us,

the Kramer family
began to show promise,

and over the next few days,
I saw many improvements.

[kids laughing]

The boys continued to earn
rewards by doing their chores.

JESSICA KRAMER: Good job.

You did a good job, Ryland.

NANNY STELLA: Mom and dad are
working together as a team

to keep their children safe.

We're going to put
this on you, buddy, OK?

[device beeping]

There you go.

NOLAN: Oh, yeah!

NANNY STELLA: And
they continue to be

firm but fair with discipline--

JESSICA KRAMER: Four
minutes, you can get up, OK?

NANNY STELLA: --which in
turn has made for a much

calmer and happier household.

You're doing great.

Yeah.

Wow!

NANNY STELLA: I
think that Jessica

and Ted are now getting it.

I think the light
bulb has gone off.

[triumphant music playing]

But before I leave,
I want to see

if dad can put the kids to
bed without using the minivan.

TED KRAMER: You got
to go to bed now.

It's time for quiet time.

NANNY STELLA: Dad
tucked them into bed--

Let's go.

I'm going to read
you a book, OK?

You see that little--

NANNY STELLA: --read
them a bedtime story--

TED KRAMER: When
you go to school,

you put your backpack
on and your coat.

They have the same thing.

OK, close your eyes.

NANNY STELLA: He had
everything under control.

TED KRAMER: Nanny Stella came
in dangling the van keys,

and unfortunately, we
didn't have to use them,

because all the boys
were asleep already.

NANNY STELLA: I just thought
you might be having withdrawal.

TED KRAMER: [chuckling]

NANNY STELLA: Thought
you might want

to go for a ride in the van.

Oh, that's all right.

No, we don't need
the van anymore.

I think it was just more of
saying, ha ha, I told you so.

NANNY STELLA: Now that the
family van will stay parked

in the driveway at bedtime,
I feel my work here is done,

and I can say goodbye.

Hey, guys.

Are you ready to say goodbye?

Saying goodbye to the
Kramers was quite sad.

My stay has been very
rewarding, because I

do see some major shifts.

I've seen some
vast improvements.

What I need to know
is, can you keep up

the hard work when I've gone?

BREVIN: Mm-hm.

Do you think so?

What are you going
to do, Brevin?

Pick up toys.

NANNY STELLA: Are you
going to pick up toys?

What about you, Ryland?

Are you going to listen?

Yeah?

What about Nolan?

Is Nolan going to listen
to mommy and daddy?

Yeah.

NANNY STELLA: Yeah?

Nanny Stella has helped us
learn a lot about ourselves

and what we can actually do
that we didn't know we could do.

NANNY STELLA: This
really was a challenge.

It was a tough week.

But at the same time,
it was really rewarding.

So thank you for inviting
me into your house.

OK, is there any chance
I'm getting any hugs today?

TED KRAMER: I think
the experience

has been really great.

I think we've learned
a lot the last week.

I think our boys--

I think they've
learned a lot too.

NANNY STELLA: Am I
a pink superhero?

Can I have a hug?

NANNY STELLA: I just
hope the kids carry

on listening and responding
and following through,

because they're adorable.

TED KRAMER: Thank you very much.

NANNY STELLA: You're welcome.

Keep it up, OK?
TED KRAMER: Oh, yes.

Don't stop.

[crying]

Don't be sad.

Why are you crying?

Thank you so much.

You're welcome.

JESSICA KRAMER: I
have to keep going,

because there's no one
else who's going to do it.

I am the mother
of four children,

and it's my responsibility,
so I can't give up.

NANNY STELLA: OK.

I'd like to just come back and
visit, not because I have to,

OK?

See you later.
TED KRAMER: Say bye.

RYLAND: Bye.
NANNY STELLA: Bye, guys.

TED KRAMER: Bye bye.

NANNY STELLA: It's
been a challenging week

at the Kramers', but
I think I finally

got the message across that
safety must come first.

For the sake of the children,
I certainly hope so.

[triumphant music playing]

[child yelling]

TED KRAMER: Get out
of there, Brevin.

Nope.

Come on.

Time to get out.

There's stuff in there.
Nope.

Come on.

Out.

Out.

Stay out of there.

Ha ha, Daddy!

[chuckling]

[all laughing]

Daddy, you can't do that.

TED KRAMER: [chuckling]

Dad!

[theme music playing]

[chime playing]